Golkar guard's murder reveals dirty politics

Golkar guard's murder reveals dirty politics

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The death toll from campaign traffic
accidents rose to 49 yesterday but the murder of Sudihardjo, a
Golkar security guard, reveals a darker side to national
politics.

The 46-year-old resident of Tegal Kopen, Banguntapan district,
Bantul regency, was killed by unidentified people on May 5 in
Sleman regency.

Sudihardjo, also known as Abu, was allegedly one of the Golkar
supporters who attacked local offices of the United Development
Party (PPP).

A source told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Abu's killers
were members of PPP's special election force.

Abu was stabbed and beaten to death. He is survived by two
wives, Sugiyarti and Dewi, five children and two grandchildren.

Abu had been visiting Joko Pramono, the owner of a motorbike
repair shop in Ngeces, Sleman regency. He was sitting on a parked
bike, chatting with three others, when a Toyota Kijang van tried
to run down the men. Abu and the others fled.

Four of the six men in the van got out and chased Abu. They
caught him, beat him with iron bars and stabbed him in the back
and side.

"They did it all so quickly, we couldn't do anything to help
Abu. Besides, the attackers were armed," a witness said.

Abu's close friend, Beluk, said Abu had said he was scared
that he might be attacked and that he had armed himself. "The
problem is, Abu was drunk when he was attacked," Beluk said.

Abu's son by his first marriage, Danang, aged 23, said he
believed his father was scared after being involved in the May 5
attack on PPP offices.

But Bambang Aris Sudjolu, 42, of the PPP task force has denied
the task force's involvement. He said it would never damage
property, assault or murder people. "Such acts are against Islam
and PPP is not a gang."

PPP task force member, Agus Joko Lukito, also denied the
allegation.

Sleman regency police chief, Lt. Col. Andi Djaka Mulyadi, said
the task force was not involved, and that Abu was the victim of a
criminal rather than a political attack.

"It just so happened that Abu died during the election
campaign," Andi said, adding that police had already established
the suspects' identities.

Lt. Col. Suhendri of the Yogyakarta police said that Abu's
death was related to a territorial struggle between two gangs of
hoodlums seeking to run a protection racket at the Rejowinangun
bus terminal.

Abu had been involved in violent clashes at the terminal and
had collected money from drivers. He was a former bus driver.

Danang acknowledged that his father was a thug. "But we still
need to know how he died. And if this was really about crime, why
did he die now, during the election campaign?"

His daughter, Intan, 25, said Abu had advised his family to
refrain from politics.

Abu's first wife, Sugiyarti, has been getting anonymous
telephone calls at her home in Ledok Prawirodirjan, Gondomanan.
The callers say they are pleased with Abu's murder.

Abu's death has attracted the attention of Golkar's Yogyakarta
branch chairman, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, who has sent his
condolences and asked the family not to make a fuss about the
murder. (38)